The Saudi-based architecture firm NEOM has gotten to work on a handful of futuristic projects in recent years. Now, it’s announced new details of its plan for Shushah Island.
Those involved with urban planning are now faced with major challenges in light of our mounting environmental and resource crises.
Experimentation, innovation, and consideration of nature will be vital when building architectural landscapes of the future.
Striving to become a kingpin in developing luxury locations that meet these criteria is NEOM. Based in Saudi Arabia, the firm – which takes its name from the word meaning ‘new future’ – has put forward a growing list of eye-catching and mind-boggling urban living designs.
At Thred we’ve featured The Line, a mirror-walled ‘net-zero city’ that stretches from the seaside and deep into the desert. We’ve also featured The Mukaab, a gigantic cube-shaped skyscraper to be placed in the city of Riyadh.
Alongside these structures, NEOM’s projects include Oxagon, a floating industrial complex which will build on the already-operating Duba Port. Next is Trojena, set to be the first outdoor skiing destination in the Arabian peninsula.
The latest design-bending development is Shushah Island. Located in the Red Sea, 100 hectares of the island will soon be dotted with luxury hotels, villas, and much, much more.
It’s not like we were expecting humble approaches to design based on NEOM’s past projects, but this idea is up there with its most ambitious.
Alongside a series of hotels and villas aimed at luring the world’s elite to vacation in the Middle East, Shushah Island will include a modern marina, beach club, an underwater museum, as well as the world’s largest coral garden.
The marina will welcome up to 43 super-yachts and host at least two aeroplane docks. Meanwhile, a 200-metre skyscraper will provide hotel accommodation for visitors given the option of renting 1 of 300 ‘upscale boutique,’ or ‘luxury boutique’ rooms.
Those looking to splurge a little more will be pleased to learn of private villas and entire apartments on offer. But aside from its astronomical budget, it is NEOM’s focus on natural landscapes that sets it apart from other designers.
The coral reef project and underwater museum
In line with NEOM’s goal of being carbon-neutral and protecting 95 percent of its surrounding nature, Shushah Island is set to become home to the world’s largest coral reef garden.
Already, the Red Sea boasts some of the planet’s most precious and resilient coral species. This makes the island the perfect location to conduct a large-scale restoration project.
Facilitating the project will be an underwater museum and research centre. It will be kitted with KAUST Maritechture Technologies, developed by scientists at the university’s Red Sea Research Center and Coastal and Marine Resources Core Lab.
These technologies have been designed specifically to address marine restoration in the region, as well as to identify solutions that help to preserve and nurture it for future generations.
The coral reef element of Shushah Island has been named its defining feature. It hopes to attract scientists, researchers, and nature-loving travellers from around the world.
NEOM has labelled its numerous projects a ‘bold landmark of regenerative tourism’ that will advance our sustainability agenda and mitigate losses from climate change.
Shushah Island in particular is on track to be completed by 2025.
What’s next for NEOM?
Considering that all of the firm’s projects are designed to boost business, residents, and tourism to Saudi Arabia, it should come as no surprise that the launch of NEOM Airlines is also in the pipeline.
According to the information available, the airline will fly ‘supersonic, next-generation aircrafts’ that run entirely on hydrogen.
Every component of planes operated will be reviewed to achieve optimal sustainability, from the interior furnishing of planes to the kinds of utensils and cups served during in-flight service.
The airline will transport visitors and residents to and from NEOM International Airport – which is comprised of The Line, The Oxagon, Trojena, and Shuhsha Island. The focus area of NEOM’s project can be seen in the image below.
Tech, tech, and more tech
No doubt, NEOM’s projects are bursting with exciting potential – whether you think they sound like incredible luxury locations or hellish and dystopian all-inclusive resorts.
At the heart of the project is the incorporation of futuristic technology, and NEOM airport will be no exception.
Current plans see it do away with boring, barrier-laden departure gates and additional visa requirements. They will instead include biometric facial recognition at all entry points, with the intention of creating a traveller journey that is ‘as seamless as possible’.
The firm is confident that it can achieve this, as all locations in the NEOM project have been designed in-house to correspond and interlink with one another.
Sure, building these megacities will require forking out hundreds of billions of dollars – in fact, it already has. But with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman being the brain behind the project, it’s unlikely that money is really an object.
And with the success of Dubai as a tourist hotspot, it’s easy to see why this one-of-a-kind of venture has been set into action.
Once NEOM is open to visitors, it will be especially interesting to see the kind of architectural and sustainable design projects it inspires elsewhere in the world.
I’m Jessica (She/Her). Originally from Bermuda, I moved to London to get a Master’s degree in Media & Communications and now write for Thred to spread the word about positive social change, specifically ocean health and marine conservation. You can also find me dipping my toes into other subjects like pop culture, health, wellness, style, and beauty. Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.
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